NUGD: 2018 L.A. Guitar Sales/Martin Custom Shop CS-00-18S

[pegleghowell]

So elegant...a beautiful guitar.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Cool555

Congrats! Great looking CS-00-18S!

When you got your OM-28, I thought maybe some people love both mahogany and rosewood b/s but you went back to your old love...Cool !

Looks quite similar to the 000-15SM, just that its lower bout is a tiny bit narrower. Enjoy playing and bonding with it!

Very perceptive! Yes, I was desiring some of the characteristics that I love about the 000-15SM, but in a spruce-topped version.

[Btlcat]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

I've been on somewhat of a guitar buying and selling tear lately, trying to hone my stable of instruments and figure out what I want to keep for the long run as look towards retirement in a few years.

I bought a beautiful used 2020 Martin OM-28 a few months ago, but as lovely as it is, I have come to the conclusion that rosewood-backed guitars aren't for me; and that what I REALLY want is a small-bodied, short-scale spruce/mahogany guitar.

That lead to me to this morning purchasing a used 2018 L.A. Guitar Sales/Martin Custom Shop CS-00-18S that was listed in this forum's classified by @raduray, who lives about an hour from me. (Radu had some other business in the area, so he generously brought the guitar over to my house.)

It sounds punchy, full-bodied and warm, and is a surprisingly good strummer considering its diminutive size. The neck is spec'd with Martin's standard 'modified low oval' shape and 1.75" nut, but it feels chunkier than other recent Martins I've played, and I like that. I'm also a sucker for a vintage-style slot-head. The back and sides looks to me like genuine South American mahogany, but I'm not sure.

I'm totally digging this little guitar!

Very nice. I am a sucker for a 12 fret Mahogany as well. That said, I wouldn’t cast out Rosewood completely.

I have had Rosewood 000 and 00 Martins in the past and never grew to like them, but I played a new 000-28 a few months ago and decided to let it follow me home. It was a huge surprise to me that it has become my favorite and gets the most play time. I play fingerstyle and put on a set of Martin Flex Core Custom Lights. This one has none of what I don’t like about Rosewood, and everything that I like about Mahogany, only more. I played 6, 28s that day, (a 0, 2 of the 00, and 3 of the 000 including a Modern Deluxe), and this was the only one that I bonded with. Anyway, very nice guitar that you have there.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Btlcat

Very nice. I am a sucker for a 12 fret Mahogany as well. That said, I wouldn’t cast out Rosewood completely.

I have had Rosewood 000 and 00 Martins in the past and never grew to like them, but I played a new 000-28 a few months ago and decided to let it follow me home. It was a huge surprise to me that it has become my favorite and gets the most play time. I play fingerstyle and put on a set of Martin Flex Core Custom Lights. This one has none of what I don’t like about Rosewood, and everything that I like about Mahogany, only more. I played 6, 28s that day, (a 0, 2 of the 00, and 3 of the 000 including a Modern Deluxe), and this was the only one that I bonded with. Anyway, very nice guitar that you have there.

Don't get me wrong, I am still open to rosewood, but perhaps in a different implementation.

Upon further reflection and careful consideration of the qualities that I most desire, I've concluded that ultimately I like a warm, intimate sounding guitar, which this 00-18 certainly is. It has just the right amount of bloom to give it a little sophistication.

The OM-28 is a very vibrant, alive guitar that, compared to mahogany guitars I've owned, was relatively lean in the mids, and that was accentuated by the extended treble response, giving it a very crisp presentation. There are some things that I like to play that worked extremely well on the OM-28 with its piano-like overtones and sustain, and which I miss sometimes on the 00-18, but there really is no one-size-fits-all guitar, is there?

I'd be interested in spending some time with a 00-28 or 000-28. I suspect I might like the warmer, less-crisp tone of those models better than the OM-28, while getting all the bloom and overtones that rosewood is known for.

[sedandelivery]

Congrats!! I ogled this guitar many times on the local craigslist. It was beautifully photographed by the seller. Glad to hear it stayed local. Enjoy!

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by sedandelivery

Congrats!! I ogled this guitar many times on the local craigslist. It was beautifully photographed by the seller. Glad to hear it stayed local. Enjoy!

Heh heh, Radu and I had been back'n'forthing about this guitar via email for a couple of months. When I saw it listed in this forum's classifieds, resistance was futile and I made arrangements to check it out in person.

I played it and instantly loved it. A deal was made, and now it's all mine!

[Charmed Life Picks]

Ted has a beautiful shop and some of the best brands in the business. Your new Martin is sure a beauty. Enjoy!

sm

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by pegleghowell

So elegant...a beautiful guitar.

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Ted has a beautiful shop and some of the best brands in the business. Your new Martin is sure a beauty. Enjoy!

sm

Thank you for the kind words!

[Misifus]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

I was able to get the build sheet from Martin, and it confirms that the neck and body are Genuine Mahogany, which I understand means strictly Honduran on Custom Shop orders.

Your b/s look very like the wood in my 1967 00-16C, so I’d easily believe yours to be the real thing.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Misifus

Your b/s look very like the wood in my 1967 00-16C, so I’d easily believe yours to be the real thing.

Cool!!!

[raduray]

Glad it went to a good home. Love the pics.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by raduray

Glad it went to a good home. Love the pics.

I am thoroughly enjoying it, Radu!